Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, July 4, 1891, Page 10

LOST PICK AND SHOVEL BA. Rioh Gold Dizgings in the Siorra Madres, | Where One Man Washed Out $40 a Day BUT HE WAS DRIVEN OUT BY INDIANS, Hns Been Made which Pros- Had For Yenrs Scarch for the Claim pector Bradfield to Leave. Sanatoss, Carbon Co., Wyo., June 30.— [Correspondencs of Tir Bek,|—[u common with most uew mining districts there are lo- gends of lost minesand gold diggings of great valuo assoclated with the mountains surrounding the upper Platto valley. Some of these stories savor of the inythical. But anumber ean bo well suthenticated. More than ono rich mineral discovery has been mado by members of expoditions outfittad in yoars back in Donver aad elsowhe for old workings, the lovation of which still remain a mystery. One story in particular, of the many which have long been current in this section, has & spocial significance at the present timo in view of the active prospocting now progress- ingln tho Siorea Madros only a few miles west of hore. After a lapse of & number of yenrs search has baon ronewed for ths Brad field diggings or what Issometimes known as the Lost Pick and Shovel clal Ihave takon pains to gathorall tho in- formation possible about this noted placer ground where ono man panned out 10 a_day away back in the sixties, Fortuuately there aro living in the country now men who kuew. tho discoverer of the rich gold fleld and learned tho particulars about his find from him dire Others got the story at second hand from partnors of Bradfield who took up tho search after be had avandoned it. Whilo the stories differ somewhat as to do- tails, there is nothing inconsis! t about them, though the original report made by Bradiield has been moro or less embellished as the years havo passed, Just” where Bradfield hailed from is un- known. But that does not matter so far as his prospecting in this_country is coucerned Ho first came hore in tho winter of 1852-53 and over the old emigrant trail. Ho was one of a large party bound for California. They crossed the continental divide over the old Cherokee trail and fifteen miles west of Sara- tora and rested for a while on tho Pactfic slopo of the rango, There thoy found wood foed for their cattle which had grown tender- footed by the long journey over the gravzled overland routo. The bali was necessary be- eance the road boyond the mountains was a hard onoon stock, drives of thirty miles to ‘Wwaler beig necessary in some 0S8, NO NELD TO G0 T0 CALIFORNIA. While the caravan was uecessurily de taiued, some of the party put in their time prospecting. Indians were troublesome then 50 that no systematic search for zoid diggings could be made. None of the emigrants knew much about mining anyway or they mignt have contented themselves with malk: ing amore prolonged stay in that locality. But they had started out for California ana nothing else would satisfy them but to push an to the scene of the gold excitement. Bradfield seems to have been a venture- sowme sort of spirit and would e staid in the country if he bad boen able to get anyone to remain with him. The journey was re- sumed and ho stuck to the purty. For more thun ton_years he prospected and washed gold with variable success. During that time experience made him wiser so far as mining knowledge goes and he came to the conclusion that the country in the Sierra Madres was worth investigating. Ho either organized a party or joined one which took the back track from California to bunt for gold in the Rocky mountam country. When be and his comrades reached Utah lake thelr wuys parted. Somo wauted to go in ono direction and others were allured to different places from which stories of big finds bad come. Bradfield was so positive that wealth was to be gained In the neighborhood of his old campiog ground in the Sierra Madres, that he tried to got hie_companions to share his enthusiasm. When be found that he was only wastingt ime in tryiug to recruit an ex- ition, he decided to tako upthe hunt alone, He struck off by himself from Provo, Utah or somo place i that_vioinity. In course of time he reached the Sierra Madres ith 8 swall pack outtlt in tho latior part of He selocted a place fora camp where ho would be out of ‘danger from ‘tue Indians, with whom theso mountains were favorite huoting grounds. From this baso ho mado daily trips along the range. Finally ho came across a dry bar whore he was con- vinced thero was minoval. It prospectod well, and from a_two-foot. hole he took out rich pay dirt. This had to bo packed some distance to u creek, for there was no water near the bar. After carrying a large quan- tity of dirt to the little stroum he was able to wash out $0 in gold & day. INDIANAJUMPED 1S CLAIM, Bradtield had been engaged in this work only a few days when late In_tho afternoon he bapponed to look in_ tho direction of the little cabin he had built for his shelter. Thero was a good deal of commotion about the place and he ook in the situation immediately— his camp had been jumped by Indians, He realized that Mr. Redskin wouldu't rest con- tent with taking his pick of the outfit and appropriating the horses whict were picketed in the little park, but would make & hunt for the owner of this property. Hastily burying his pick and shovel unde a pile of rocks and blazing the treos around there s0 as to mark the place Bradfield struck out into the timber on foot. Ha had left his gun that morning in his cabin whore most of his ammunition was, but fortunately ho had ‘with him a pistol and some powdcr and balls. Under the circuwstances the only thing for him to do was to gev away from that locality s fast as he could. With a hatchot he started to blaze his course, but night came on and he made all possible huste to cross the mountains. He traveled in this way for sov- eral days without knowing where he yzas gainf save that he was leaving the despoilers of his camp bohind. Not until ho renched the Laramie river did he recognize any land marks to guide him. Eventually he got down into Colorado. “There he fell in with some miners, whom he interested iu the rich digeings he had ais- covered. Tho next spring he came baok with & party composed of Bob Dixon, Len Pollard, Charlie Cutter, *Old Jim" Bal and & man named Smith. ' They mado tholr headquar- ters on the Platte, ten miles below the pre: ent town of Saratoga, where Ed. Bennett ran a ferry on the overland trail. All the men in tho party were well known prospect- ors. “Old Jim” Baker was taken along be- cause he knew tho country better than anyboedy else, as he was an old frotiersman and had been for wany years a govern interpreter for the Utes, who claimed country as their own then, FIRE CHANGED TIE LOOKS OF THINGS. Bradtield and his associates spent most of that season in bunting for the old claim. But the search was unsuccessful. Bradtield knew all the country until he reached the Girand Encampment croek, twenty miles below S atoga, on the cast side of the Continental di- vide. From there on over the mountains overything secmed new tohim. In the in- terim betwoen his retroat gud this visit big forest fires bad raged in the mouutains and the whole character of the country had un- dorgone a change. The treos ho had blazed bad evidently helped to kindle the great con- flagration or added fuel to it, for nove of bis courso sigus could be found or at loast 1denti- ed. That abandoned pick and shovel under the hastily coustructed ouirn was practically tho only thing likely 10 be left_ by which the cov- eted placer could b relocated aud no trace of either could be found. When the expedition was broken up Brad- fleld went back to Colorado again. Baker wried to get somo information from the Utes but none of them professed to kuow anything about a cabin that bad existed anywhere in the mountain. This was only natural, for tho last glimse Bradtield hud of his camp, when making his flight, satisfied bim that the unwelcomed visitors had set it wfire. During the succeeding two seasons other similar expeditions roamed over the moun- wains looking for the lost Pick and Shovel, but with no better success thau the first. It was one of these parties, cowposed of taventy-four men, that first made the discov THE OMAHA DAILY BE Gty of gold on Halin's Peak, which created a great oxcitement and attracted thousands thither. A big company is now engaged in minicg thore and the annual output of gold from that district is large, Bradfield hated to give up the search for t bar, and ho tenaciously clung to the hope that some day he would be able to work the rich airt again. After a while he drifved down to tho Smoky Hill route, whero he is reputed to have made a great deal of money aud to have gone back east to enjoy it. MAY BE ON THE BAVERY. There wore others, though, to wham he toid tho story of his fleeting good luck who wero eager to enjoy it themselves. When gold was discovered just across the range from here in the Savery country a fow years ago, K54 Bennett was one of the first of the thotsands who rushed in thers. Bennett had neard Bradfield’s story from his own lips and been made a confidaut as toall the particulars about 1t which the locator could .Kh’ . His famiharity with the country and his e. perience in mining inspired Bennet that the Lost Pick and Shovel might be near the forks of the Savery or on ous of the little tribu- ries to it. Ho stayed by the district until it was demonstrated that the water supply was insuficient for a poor man to make even good wages by washiog. No such bars ns that worked by Brad- field have yet been found, but it his old claim or anything liko it is ever come actoss it will creato one of the greatest furorns Wyoming has ever seen. The chances aro that the diggings will be stumbled upon sometime with good pros- pects of a rediscovery the present season when the mountains are being overrun by prospectors, The conditions are favorable for three months to come for the snow does not come in the mountains much before the middle of October and then the wll is light except up near the summit. It may seem strange that Bradfield was nover able to locate the stream at which his washing was done, or to be able to tell whether he worked on the Atlantic or Pacific slope of the Continental divide. But the waters of tho two systems head so close together that it requires careful obseryation to define the water shed. Brad- field did pot bave any concern about this matter when he was there alone and after his roturn with a searching party uoticed for the first time the pecutiar configuration of the country near the summniit of the divide. The fact that the bed rock where he worked was in state encouragoed him to think that the diggings might be located wherever such a formation was found. Subsequeut prospecting, however, has shown that slate ists in numerous places and is by no means as uncommon as Bradfield and his associates were led to eve. Within the past few wocks several gold- beaving ledges have been located on both of the rango not far from where Ed er old-tin think Bradfield left that pick and shovel hese new finds which prospect well, have recently been ve- ferred to in Tie Be: One of them in pal ticular is very promising. Tng claiw is bein rapidly developed and a mill run of ore will be made when a shaft has been sunk a little doeper. If that turns out as woll as expscted it will cause the whole neighborhood t be thoroughly prospected. Iu that way the rich bar which was lost so many years ago may ‘come to be worked again. G. F. C g WONMAN' s SPHERE. George Hoitom. Of woman's sphee the lecturer PPreached long and loud, with many a slur At man, “who claims,” forsooth, to bo A sort of male divinity.” Like deatist working with a burr The while his victim longs to fleo, She gouged and bored in fiendish glee ‘Till all had had enough of hel “Of woman's sphere.” It was a timid thing and wee ‘That set her weary audience froe— A mouse that chanced her skirts to stir. She screamed, and leaped without demur Upon & chair—a victim she Of woman’s fear. WOMEN al WORK. Thirty per cent of all the women of Amer- ica are employed in remunerative ocoupa- tions. 1In the last decade the percontage was only 21. Columbia college last weok turned ovt_two women as graduates among 331 men. Mrs. Elizaboth Cynthia Barney took the dégreo of bachelor of arts, standing fourth in a class of fifty. Miss Anoie Leland Barber was de- declared un M. A.. and camo proudly for- ward from a class of thirty-one young mon. Miss Barker also holds the Harvard degreo of B. A, But both women declare they were not lonely. Next to America, France employs more women in clerical positions than any other country, Their wages as bookkeepers and accountants range between 1,000 and 3,000 francs a yoar. A jury composed entirely of women was gathered together in Douglas, Wyo., last Saturday, The trial was one in which ail who participated wero women excepting the attorney and the justice of the peaco. Mrs. Ingersoll, who runs the hotel at Douglas, was sued by two girls working for her at the time, for their wages. No notico of their intention to leave was given their employer, and for that reason they had to bring suit to recover their wages, The jury gave judg- ment In favor of the girls, but tho case was appealed, Tho trial s a unmque event - the history of law counts, as it 15 probably tho first time m history that a jury was dalled composod entirely of women. (ireat excitement was causod in Douglas by the trials as all were auxious to see what the female jury would do with the case. 1t was traly a case in which woman was pitted against woman. Efforts are being mado to erect on tho West, Side, Chicago, 3 new workingwomauw’s home, at an ostimated cost of $0,000. The object of the bome is to provide rooms ana board for Chicago working-girls at a modorate price. Mrs. Carrie Williams, President of the San Diego, Cal., Silk Culturists’ Association, hias been experimenting with cocoons ou her sow- ing-machine, by which she finds reeling may be done sucessfully, in licu of the regular machinery. Mrs, Sutro, the first woman law graduate of New York, says the Sun of that city, pass- ed a brilliant txamination at the university, and is now successfully teaching a large law class of women. R A ROYAL MINE, Tho most beautiful unmarried royal £irl in all Kurope is Princess Alex of Hesse-Darm- stadt. The young German emperor who was roared in England, has a decided taste for s and bacon. Ex-King Milan has given British royalty a pointer by winning 15,000 at bacoarat, but then Milan isn't a gentleman, as Natalio knows. Queen Victoria breakfasts alone at 9 o'clock in Summer, ac Osborne, Windsor or Batmoral Formerly the quoen took oatmeal poeridge as o part of her morning meal. The queen of Portugal isa fine horse- woman and rides about the environments of Lisbou so early in the morning that most of her faithful subjects ure asleap. Tho little king of Spain has a very large awbition to grow a very largo moustache aud “*he caunot understand,” it is said, **how tho king of Spain can bo so smafl"a thought not at all royal, but famliar to most peovle in contemplating kings in general. The emperor of China doesn't permit any lawyers to fool away the time around his courts. He simply ovders the bebeading of *all persons concerned i the recent riots and massacres,” without bothering too much about the sharo they had in the trouble Threo thrones in Burope now are occupied by children —Quoea Wilhemina of the Neth- erlands, tn yoars of age; Alphonso XIIL of ain, five years, and Alexauder L. of Serv y of fotirteen. Two of the littie sover cigns are controlled by wise and capablo mothers, but the banished Queen Natalio is the mother of the other. The queen regent of Spain sets a very pretty example of economy (0 the woman world, ono which strikes at the root of the problem of things. Sbe is baving & summer palace buut at St. Sobastian, the work of which progresses slowly, because the owner, though u queen, devotes ouly & portion of her allowance to the buildiog, and when it 15_ex- hausted the workmen must stop for a wholo year until mare funds can be saved of the royal income. i One day when surprise was expressed to Senator Vance, who is a strong Prolestant, that he should’ have married & Catholie, the North Carolina statesinan retorted goed- naturedly that he bad tried “rum and *'re bellion” and now he wanted to complete the prescription with a littls “Romanism.” DELLS OF THE WISCONSI A Pioturesque Country Not Sufficiently Well Known, THE MEMORY OF A SUMMER TRiP. Bright Descriptions of a Drowsy Land of Pleasure Where Nature is Scen at Her Very Best, ls written in my memory —Longtellow. “That was all the brake- man said as our train drew near the station midway of the afternoon one summer day. Ho said the words just in that same sing- song, prosme fashion that he had aunonnced many another station passed by: if anything the words fell upon our ear with an addition- al monotony, for wo were becoming tired, dusty, and travel-stained, aud althougn this was our longed-for destination, we looked from the window, all of us u trifle disap- pointed if the truth were known. Iatleast must have confessed such was the stato of my own feelings, had anyone chaunced 10 have asked me just then what was my first impression of Kilbourn City. The place looked just us ordinary aad unat- tractive as the words bad sounded—common place indeed Our little party loft the train_and indiffer- ently turned our faces toward the town and although we did not in words give utterance to our thoughts we were meutally asking if We WeLe 10U SOrTy We came. on whon was it and how was it that the spoll came upon nst We found ourselves catehing glimpses of scenery here and thero in the distance that suggestod warm: admira- tion upon noarer acquaintance. ~That histance lent enchautment the view, was an old adago we remembered, but *twas false and 1t seemed discourteous to harvor that trite old sayving in our minds for an _instant. Just how the miracle was wrought we never knew, but rn City seemed transformed beforo ry eyes. v The narrow, winding streets, rich in th wealth of shade, became_attractive aud even fascinuting, leading and luring us on, some- times turning a corner to unfold Ariver l!q~ fore our eyes that was so suaden in its lovi- ness, we felt like apologizing for the thoughts which had flittered througn our winds such a little whilo before, and we weve, oh, so glad we ' had mot spoken them aloud. That was our comfort. Wo could make it right with the river and hills aud the Dells before w said_‘good-bye” and came away, for how could they oxpect us to_have imagined their excoeding great beauty? It was not possible and they would be lenient, and magnanimous with poor, weak humanity, wo kuew they would. Through the ramoling strects we finally wended our way to a very home-like appearing hotel, finding it just as hospitable and home: like as its oxterior had given promise and after refroshing ourselyes and resting while the arrangements were be- g made for our trip up through the Dells, we sallied forth. Right here I would say a pleasant word for Mr. Bennott, our guide. He was a mau of funate courtésy of manner and thoroughly ac quanted with each bit of sceuery for miles around. Having lived in_Kelbourn City for 1o, these many years, he was acquainted with many historical facts connected with the different points of interest, and his manner of relating them made the listenor's pleasure double. With due respect to all other gnides, we were giad that it had been our good for- tune to have “Bennett” as be was familiarly called, for our pilot. i “Theve is a little steamer on the river which makes two trips up and back each day, but this is not the way to make the trip most enjoyably. We had wished to see the Dells of the Wisconsin river of which wo seemed always to have heard delightful ac counts, und really to sce them, how faint and dim hud been our imagination of the reality. Isw't there a certain charm in the word ilself! Yes, tho very word pictures some- thing delightful in one's mind, even before we pause to make definite he’ vague charm which just tho sound of the word suggests From the hotel to the river's cdge was ouly a short distance, and our guide had waiting a rowboat of gencrous dimeusions and com- fortably cushioned. 'Twas about half- past four olclock as our ours fivst dipped the water and the row of five miles would just about bring us up isto tho Witch's guich by supper time, snd supper up at “Robinson’s,” wholived in the Witch's gulch, was something well worth going five miles to obtain, even eaving out the sceaery, s0 we had been told. Imagine a porfect summer aftornoon, & hazy. lazy, dreamy summer day and you are enterng tho jaws of the Deils. ~ The jaws are immense rocks, high and massive aod for- Dbidaing, standing in such close proximity that tho passage through sesms hardly large enough for our little boat, and you wonder, can the steamer, though = it is of small proportions, ever squeeze through avalll Ana once safely through these mighty jaws the wonder of tho Dotls lies befura you. On each side of this narrow, winding rivor, there1s so much to see you are perplexed, not knowing which way to look, fearing to miss any part. , “T'o hiave seen it, to havo hung it up in the hall of imaginativo memory, is to have be- come richer forovermore.” How can one give any idea of what the Dolls ure really like to those who have never bebeld them? ~ To say that thoy consist of high precipitous rocks and ledzes ou either sido of the river, of fantastic shupe and outline, sounds as if they were not very wonderful after all. and indced not half so beautiful s meny other scenic points wo hear spoken of d But let us portray a picture by word-painting as_nearly true us wo are able and seo if it does not pléase your faucy. One may not make mention of ali the points of interest along the way, but of some we must spealk. . ‘A short distance up_ the river at our loft is Romauce cliff, fulfilling in picturesqaencss all that tho name implies, It deties descrip- tion, for who has eloquence to describe tio meaning of that poteat wora! The embod- mont of the 1dea is, exprassed the magnificent rocs, it silently gives uttor- ance to all that words cauuot express. Just a litue distance boyond, on the other side of tha river, our guido suddenly steered the boat into a cave-like opening, and there was a spring of water whieh camo trickling out from the bed of rock, so white and clear and templing that we all 'drank of it and decided to uame it “Satisfaction Spring," for strange 10 say, though so worthy, it was uameloss, and we unsuimously agreed that none could be more fitting. Looking across the river we see an opoming among the rocks, aud @ lile wuay up from thoe rver's bank thero is & ourious looking 0ld house, having just the look and ir about 1t that leads us unconsciously to ask ur guide its bistory. We folt sure 'twus uo ordinary bouse whero somebody had lived snd died and who had no particular history and ouc infercnce was correct. We learned it was the old Pioneer hotel. Long before the quy of railroading, it had beon the military Do’t station botween Green Bay and Praivie du Chien, having baen built in 1844, Again our guide steers our small craft to- ward auotner opening among the rocks aud we find ourselves in Hoat cave. We aroshut io by the hugo rocks completely, we seem separated from all the outside world and iv's so cool and inviting we think we would like to linger until we are reminded that we have come only & short distance as yot, and have not begun to dream of tho beauties of the Dells boyond. Next comes the Navy vard, Here large boulders are standing out in the water and sharply outlinod against the bank of the river, 8o very like “‘men of war," 1t does not seom’ possible nature could have moulded them s0 accurately true in detail. We are still marveling whea we como upon Allen’s hand. We did notneed to have tho h pointed out to us, it was so very like a and indeed, but we did moi know ‘twas Allen’s hand uutil we listened to the sad story of one poor Allen who loved in in and whoso hangd being spurned and re- oted by the object of bis love, 1t turned to tone and one day these grand old rocks took on tho outlize of poor Allen’s hand forover to polnt with prophetic warning lest somo other thoughtless maiden should forget the lesson. Into another cave the steady strokes of our oars brought us and Lhis was Skylizht cave Straight up abovo us was & Littie orevice through which we could sce the blue sky aud “This journey with u sunbe to ATHRDAY, JITL sunshine and rift how it gladdened , and made bright the surrounding dogknoss. Presently our little boat seomed to bo surrounded by fire. Flames leaped up,on 1 all sides and we could hardly believe it was just phosphorus wo saw, caused by the guide pushing the oar guickiy back and forfh in the sand just be- neath the boat's site, We came forth, continaing our way up the river, passing Sturgeon Rock and Devil's EIbow, and arrive at the narrowest point in the river. It is onfy about fifty-two feet wide, yet our guide télls us the water is over ninoty feec deop, Artists' Glen we mnext passed and ¢amo to Cold Water canyon. Here, 1f' one has the time, a landing 'tiay ~be made and there's a walk of a half mile into the canyon, which repays one fully by its beauty. Then we find ourselves looking at the Devil's arm chair, and cannot refrain from remarking that the devil's possessions up in this region secom to be undisputed and nu- merous. Steamboat Rock stands on a little island about four miles up the river, and docs, ithout scretch of the imagination, remind one of what it represents. We mext pass Rood's glen, another picturesque point of which we catcl only a glimpso in passing, desiring & much more extended vision, and suddenly our boat is hugging close to the shore and there's a hittle cleared space between the rocks surely, but can this be our dostination ! Is this the Witch's guleh? Again first impressions are disappoiuting, yet again likewiso we are silent and await developments. Securing our boat, the guide teils us to follow bim and we obey. We walk only a few rods when we come 10 8 narrow path, which gradually grows more narrow until it abruptly leads us into asort of gorwe or canyon, and we enter the uncanny place, single” file, carefully pick ing our way andall the time full of wondorment. Certainly, if we thought the Dells marvelous as we voyaged up the river, what were our thoughts iowt We had imagined when we entered the place that only o few steps would lead out into the world again, But, no: more and more the huge rocks closed in upon us uutil the arched cave of rocks en- closed us wholly. Once in awhile, through an_opening from above, the light came in, but it was most of tho time dark save the dim rays of light from the lantern which our guide swung back and forth as be led the way. and bow dark it was! A narrow walk boside a rushing st every now and then stops to ascend or descend, sudden turns in the hazardous pathway, re- vealing by the dim light picturesque sud ro- mantic surroundings of the most weird and uncanny sort imagiuable. Had wo dared listen wo the wited's voice might have boen plainly heard, Without trying to hear we several times felvsure sho whispered something, but our interpretatious of what we thouzlit she said were all so different we were finally forced to be prosaic enough to conclude ‘twas only imagination after all. How beautiful aud how strange it all was! How long wo kept walking on and on vet did not come o the daylight. For a half mile you are in the gulch and as suddenly as you entered it. you find exit. The rocks part, 1 ling before you at last, aud there is “*itobinson’s.” Mr. gud Mrs, Robinson are a most hospi- table host and hostess and - the supper pro- vided is all that we were led to expect. Its such a quaint place, u_ cottage Wwith ample piazza has been eretted in the cleared space among, and almost under the over-hangug rocks, the same little stream we have follow- ed through the gorze rushes along by the very door, as if bent upon some mission which our dull minds could never thiuk of comprebend- ingoven should it'pauise to explain, Weglance up at the rocks on all sides and how for- bidding they look. It's not sunset yet, but the sun nover doos fiud his way in here except for an hour o two at midday and to- night, could we hive had a more sweeping view of the skv above us, we should have nhad due intimation 6f how our plans for re- turning to Kilbourn City, by moon'ight woro ail to be shattered and faid in ruins. Our plan had bedn to have supper up in the galch and then come down through the Dells by moonlight. Many a time as wo journeyed' up the river, we had tried to fandy what it would bo to see the Dells by {moonlight, and we bad promised ourselves ' this pleasire without ever dreaming of its'being fulfilled. We had 1o sooner fimshed our delicions supper than we heard the rumble of distant thunder and almost before we knew it the rain came down in big drops and the storm was upon us. Wil any of our little party ever forget that storm ! It was an electric storm of unusual viotence and fury. Iv swept througn the gorge like some avenging Nemesis, One tall pine em- bedded in the rocks high above us fell pros- trate, the bolt of forked lightning split- ting it from top to bottom. We felt al- though we perhaps would uot have willingly missed witnessing so grand _a_spectacle, yot all were hushed and awed into silence dur- ing that very marvelous combination of py- rotechnics aud artillery. 1t is hardly necessary to say that we had no alternative but to accept the Robinsons proffered hospitality and spend the night with them. They wude us very comfortaole, even though it was a bit crowded for overy- body and after a most rofreshing sicep, we opened our eyes to behold the dawn of a per- fect day. Wo drow long breaths of the sweet, fresh, air - aod looked about us wonderng 1if we had mot dreamed of that terrible storm. No! we had not dreamed it—for there lay the pine treo across the opouing among tho rocks, split wide for several feet in length and bits of the scorchod wood lying about, Here was au evidence. To sod was to beliove. An early breakfast, - “good-bys” said and sincero promises that we would surely come wn and_we turaed our faces toward Kilbourn City. True, we had to forego secing the Dells by mooniight, but thay wero very lovely in the early morning, and we felt that had we seen them by moonlight we must have lost this revelation of their beauty, and we were con- tent. For the benefit of any and all pleasure seelcers who have never made a trip up turough the Dolls, the_following information is added. Kiloourn City is situated on the wain line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, between Chicago & St. Paul, two fast trains making trips cach way daily. S LIRSl W PROMINENTS, the of light, in A FE Sergeant Camobell of the seventh cavalry, who was snot through the jaw at the Wound: ed Knce fight, carries $150 worth of gold 1 the hole made by thoe bullet. President- Diaz of Mexico has a strain of Inaian blood in his veins, as had his prede- cessors, Juarez and Hidalgo, The congro: of Mexico is largely composed of descondants of the ancient Aztecs. George Augustus Sala, the correspondent, is described a3 a jolly boy of sixty-three. He is & mau whoso initiats furnished bim at the peginuing of his, carcer with a clue to his Tuture success in, life. . Noxt to Senatoy, Hoar, Senator varts has had more college, tifles conferred upon him than any member of cither houso of the last cougross, He has received degrees from Harvard, Yalo and Union colleges. The Haytian gonoral, Hippolyte, is about sixty years of age, and of coal blaok complex- jon. Ho is the polivical idol of the pure blacks, whose blood has not been contumi- nated by lutermarriage with tho creoles. Ho is the son of & college professor of Porta- Prince. and is a manjof considerable learning and cultivation. It was ‘The O'Gorman Mahon, the fine old Irish gentlomun whose death was chronicled last week, who introduced Parnell to Mrs. O'Shea. ‘He was& wan of extremo punce tiliousness whore matters of honor corned, and is suid to have parti sixteen ducls, Hewas eighty-nine years of age. Fort_Sherman, the new army post on the outskirts of Chicago, 18 in command of Col- onel Robert E. A, Croftov, of the Fifteeuth infautry. He is a fine looking man of fifty- six, with o soldier’s figure aud & soldier’s record. He is su Irishman by birth, and in his younger days ho held a commission in the British army. It is claimed that Johu Rockafeller could ive every man, woman and ohild in the Tnited States 82 each and still bavo left tho modest sum of $1,000,000 with which to start @ pewnut stand. Willism Waldorf Astor could do the same thing, whilo our own dear Jay Gould could give 8160 cach and then have laft $,000,000 with whick to sink a well for more water. Whitelaw Reld began his journalistio work at Xeuia, O., finishing off au obituary notice with the following phrase: “But while all Xenia today monras the untimely end of ber distinguished citizon, she rejoices in the hought that he bas gone where thore will be 10 succease of sorrow." He loft the service of tho paper soon afterward, 891 -TWELVE PAGE [ PIONEER TREASUREREVEALED An Accidental Find of Ancient Coins Re- calls a Chapter of Early History, THE FATE OF THE DONNER PARTY. The Terrible Hardships of One of the First Expeditions Across the Sierra Nevadas—Relics of Their Winter Camp. The accidental discovery of a buried treas- ure on the shores of Donner lake, near Truckeo, Cal., recently, recalls the terrible privations and hardships of onoof the first expeditions that crossed tho piains and moun- talns in the early forties, nnd gives special interest to exporicnces recounted by sur- vivors in the July Century. “The fact 1s well authenticated that Mrs, iraves, oned of the party, had from £300 to £300 in Silver concealed in one of the wagons. e hardships of winter in the heart of tho Siorras and the lack of food had brought her to death’s door, and the trensure was buried beneath a tree' where it remained forty-five years, The fall of this tree led to the dis- covery of the coin. A miner named Reynolds found ten ancient looking doliars on the sur- face, and upon searching furtner into the earth uncovered a large quantity of silver. About $300 was taken out in two days. The comns are antiquated, of dates prior to 1845 and of obselete mintage. In addition to American pieces thero are French, Spanish, Bolivian, Argentine and otbor foreign coins. [HE OKGANIZATION. The Donner party was organized in Illinois in 1546 for a journoy neross the plains. ‘Tho first faint whispers of the pastoral wealth of California, its luxuriant soil, its tropical pro- ducts aod unequalled climate wero wafted east of tho Mississippi, and created no littlo excitement in the the scattered settlements on tho thon frontier. But little was known of the region to be traversed, the trackless character of the plains nor the extent of the barriers which tho several mouutain ranges presonged. The paths opencd by Fremont's expedition in 423 were not generally knowu, but the wild granaeur of the Me: can province, togother with the mystery en- velopiug the westorn empire, served to whot the desire for adventure aud exploration. The party was composed of 78 persons, was thoroughly equipped, und made the journey to Salt Linke without particular trouble. PREPARATIONS, “I was a child when we started for Califor- nia,” says Mrs, Virginia lReed Murphy in the Century, “yet I remember the journey well and T hiuve cause to remom ber it, as our little 1d of emigrants who drove out of Spring- field, IiL.. that spring morning of 1546 have since been known in_history as the “ill-fated Donner party” of “‘martyr ploneers.” My father, James . Reed, was the origiator of the party, and tho Donner brothers, George aud Jacob, who lived just a_little way out of Springfield, decided to join him. ~ Al the 'previous winter we were prepar- ing for the journey—and right hero let me say that we suffered vastly more from fear of the Indians beforo starting than we did on the plains; at least that was my case. In the ‘long winter evenings Grandma Keves used to tell me Indian stories. She had an aunt who had been taken prisoner by the sav- ages in the early sottlement of Virginia and Kentucky, and had remawed a captive in their hands five vears before she made her oscape. 1 was fond of ber stovies, and ove- uning after evening would go into grandma's room, sitting with my back close against the wall $0 that no warrior could slip benind me With a tomabawk. 1 would coax her to tell me more about her aunt, und would sit listen- ing to the recital of the fearful deeds of the savages, until it seemed to me that every- thing in' the room, from tho high, old-fash- ioned bed-posts down even to the shovel and tones in the chimney corner, was transformed into the dusky tribe in paint aund feathers, all ready for the war dance. So when I was told that wo were going to California and would have to pass through a region peopled by Indians, you can imagine how I feit. IN THE DESERT. We were now eucamped in o valley called “Twenty Wells.” The water in these weils was pure and cold, welcome enough after tho alkaline pools from which we had been forced todrink. We vrepared for the long drive ) across the desert, and laid 1n, as wo supposed an ample supply of water and grass. This desert had been representod to us as only forty miles wide but we found it nearer oighty. It was a droary, desolate, alkali waste: not a living thing ‘could bo seen; it seemed as though the hand of death had been laid upon the country, Wo started in the evening, travoled all that night, and the fol- towing day and night—two nights and one day of suffering from thirst and heat by day and piercing cold by night. When the third night fell and we saw the barren waste strotching away apparently as boundless as when we started, my father determined to go ahead in searchof water. Beforo starting he instructed the drivers, it tho cattie showed signs of giving out to take them from the wagons and follow him. He had not been one long before the oxen bogan to fall to the ground from thirst and exhaustion, They wore unhitched at once and driven ahead. My father coming back met the drivers with the cattle within ten miles of water and instructed them to return s s00n as tho animals had satistied their thirst. He reached us about daylight. We waited all that day in tho desert looking for the return of our drivers, the other wagous going on out of sight. Towards night the situation became desperate and we had only afow drops of water left; anotber night there meant death We must set out on foot and try to reach some of the wagons. Can [ ever forget that might in the desert, when wo walked mile after mile in the darkness, every step soeming to be the very last could tako! Suddenly all fatigue was banmished by fear; through the night camo a swift rushing sound of ono of the young stecrs crazed by thirst and appareatly bent upon our destruc- tiou, My father. holding his youngest child in his arms and keeping us all close behind him, drew his pistol, but finaily the madden- ed beast turned and dashed off into the dark ness. Dragging our about ten miles, wo reached the wagon of Jacob Don- ner. rhe family wero all asleep, so we children lny down on the ground. A bitter wind swept over the desert, chilling us through and through. Wo crcpt closer to- gether, and, when wo complained of the cold, papa placed all five of our dogs around us, and only for the warmth of those faithful creatures we should doubtless have perished. COLD AND STARYATION “The misery endured during months at Donner Lake in our cabins under the snow would fill pages und make the coldest heart acne. Christmas was near, but to the starving its memory gave no comfort. It came und passed witti- outobservance, but my mother hud det mined weeks before that her children should have a treat ou this one day. Sho had laid away a few dried apples, some beans, a bit ot tripe, and a small picee of bacon. Whon this hoarded store was brought out, the delight of the littio oues knew no bounds. The cooking was watched carefully, and when we satdown to our Ciristmas dinner mother said: “Chiidren, eat slov for_this one day you can have all you wish.”" So biter was the misery relieved by that one bright day, that I have never since sat down toa Christmas divuer without my thoughts oint buck to Donner Lak ““The storms often w v at a time, and wo would have to cut chips from the logs inside which formed our cabins, in order tostart a fire. We could scarcely walk and the men had hardly strength to procuro wood. We would drag oursclves throush the suow from one cabin to another, and some mornings snow would have 'to be shoveled out of the fireplace before a fire could be made. Poor littlo children were crying with hunger, and mothers were o ing because they had so littlo to give their children. Wo scldom thought of bread, we bad been without it so long. Four mouths of such suffering wouid fill the bravest hearts with despair. RELIEF- thoso little ¢ A TOUCHING SCENE. “On his arrival at Sutter's Fort my father made known the situation of the em- igrants, and Captain Sutter offered at once to do everything possible for their retief. He furnishod horses and provisions and my father and Mr. McClutcben started for the mountains, coming as far as possible with horses and then with packs on their back proceediog on foot; but thev were finally cowp:lled to retus Captain Sutter was nov surprised at their defeat. te stared that there were no ablo-bodied men in that vicin- ity, all having gone down the country with I'remont to tight the Mexicans. He advised my father to go io Yerba Buena, now San Francisco, and _malke his case known to the naval ofticer in command. My father was, in fact, conducting parties there, when thg scven members of the Forlorn Hope arr Only Exclustve from ncross the mountains, Thelr famished faves told the story. Cattle wero killed and men were up all night drylng beef and making flour by hand mills, nearly twe hundred pounds boing mado in one night, and a party of seven, commanded by Captain Iteasen P, Tucker, were sent o our reliof by Captain Sutter, and thealcalde, Mr. Sinolafr, On the ovening of Febroary 19, 1847, they roached our cabin, whare all were starving. They shouted to attract attention. Mr. Breen clambered up_the joy stops from our cabin, and soon we heard the blessed words, “Ttelief, thank God, relief!” There was joy at Donner Lake that night, for we did not know the fate of the Forlorn Hope and wo were told that reliefl parties would come and go until all were ncross the moun- taius, But with the joy sorrow was strangely blended. There were tears i other oyes than thoso of children; strong men sat down and wept. For the dead were lying about on tho snow, some even unburied, since tho liv ing had not had strength enough to bury their dead. When Milt Elliott died-—our faithful friend who seemod liko a brother: my mother and I dragged him up out of the cabin and covered him with snow. Com meuclng at his feet, 1 patted the pure white snown down softly until I renched bis face. Poor Milt! it was hard to cover that face from sight forever, for with his death our best friend was gone, HOW CALIFORNIA TOOKED. Words cannot tell how beautiful the spring appearcd to us coming out of the mountains from that long winter in Donner take in our little dark cabins under the snow Before us now lay, in all its beauty, the broad valley of the Sacramento. I remomber one day, when traveling down Napa vailey, wo stopped at noon to have lunch under the shade of an oak: but I was not hungry; I was too full of the beautiful around me o think of eating. So 1 wandered off by myself to a lovely little knoll and stood thero in a bed of wild flowers, looking up and down the green valiey, all dotted with troes. The birds were singini with very joy in the branches over wy head, aud the blessed sun was smiling down upon ali as though in benediction, I drank it in for a moment, and then begau Kissing wy nand and wafting kisses to heaven in thanksgiving to the Alwiehty for creating A world so beautiful. 1 felt so noar God at that moment that it seemed to me 1 could feel lis breath warm on my cheek, By aud by heard papa calling, ‘‘Duughter, where are yout Come, child, we are ready to start und Jou have had no tunch.” 1 ran and caught him by the band, “Buy this pla please, and let us make our homo here.” Ho stood lookin for o moment, and said, SILis a lovel and then we Dassed on s A Tested Remedy Diseases fula and Skin Cancer. S Being purely vegetable, is harm- cases malied PR on appitcation. S Drawer 3, Atanta, 62, | ‘aro made by unserupulous ins their curative powers. by over 5000 physicians §ssssssss§ S Swift's Specific S s For Al} Blood and Ski o Blood and Skin g A reliable cure for Contagious Blood Poison, Inherited Scro- s As a tonic for delicate Women s and Children it has no equal. less in its effects. s A treatise on lood and Skin Dis- s Druggists Sell 1t. SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., Sssssssss§ FALSE ASSER V..o munuiacturers and dealers in porous plasters regard- BENSON'S PLASTERS aro the only ones indorsed cists, Beware 8 und substi- S S S S S S S Rub a lame back with Pond’s Extract. Special Newspaper Train West of the Lakes. The Sunday Bee Flyer. SIXTY MILES AN HOUR. Making all Union Pactfic and Connecting Points Fight to Twenty-four Hours Ahead of all Competitors. Residents of Interior Points Want to Read a Sunday Ha They Must GILMORE ... PA-1LLION........ MILLARD.... . THURSTON .. ELKHORN..... WATE RLOO.. VALLEY.... MERCER FRENONT........ SANDBERG ...... NORTH -ENOD . BAY STATE. . ROJERS .. SCHU YLER.. LAMBERT. At Grand Islind THE ve 1he Bee. THE BER FLYBR TIME OARD: Daily on Sunday. Al News 3:20 a.m 3:27 a.m 137 am 3:42 am ...3:48 am ..3:62 a.m BENTON...... WARRACK CO UMBUS... CAYUGA 1 UNCAN.. GARDNER HAVENS.... CLA KS... TriUMMEL CENTRAL « ITY. CHAPMANS .. | | PADDOOK DOOKWGOD L | GRAND ISLAND..... dealers Sell 1t. SILVE ! ORSEE . . ...8:40 ..8:60 .6:68 L7110 BEE'S Flyer coanects with the early train on the St Joseph a1d Grand Island road and Bees are sent flying in sacks to Belvidere, Davenport, Don!phao, Edgr, Fairbury, Fair- field, and Steele City, Mc Cool Junction,& Milligin, is carried f-om Fairbury by freight train on K.C.& O. R. R; Hobron is supplied from Belvidere by horse route, a dis ance of 14 m les. ‘At Columbus connection is made with 4 train for Platte Center, Wayne and Wakefiold, At Grand Island also a fast freight is cau tht which supplies Eim C ney, Lexington, Shel on, Wood River ind North Platte Tts wouli-be rivals tumbls in their at O: y doliversd next morning, when thay are about twenty-eight hour hurg and ¢ soeola, which are wagon ¥ullerton i su 2:20 p. m. thom then,and the At Silver ( conviyed across co ok large packiges of THE L EE ar ntry a dstance of twenty-five miles by only Sunday paper reaching them on the day of put o6k, € THE BEE reach s 5 at night, seven hours thrown off for 8 g THE BLES on tion. Cla ks, & distance of fifteen milus, which gives tha people there tae only Sun: the day of publication. Humphrey, Mad'son, Norfolk, 3ibbon, Gothenburg, Kears the last mentioned place ay, later. It i too lats to read old route—this being the J)nnml by horse route from ay paper they ever had on